虽然在租房版也发了，可是那里人流量实在太少。为了让更多人看到并且讨论只能发在这里，请老大通融。如果要删就把那边那个删了吧，谢谢。

我们现在租的房子的中介很恶心，主要是有那么一个人很恶心，现叙述如下

一、
要签约的那一天，我们领着孩子9：30坐公车穿越了半个城市到了中介。结果角落里的那个胖子对我们说：“你们的appoinment在11点半。”我还纳闷，什么时候有appointment 了？然后就出门了。后来我老公问我，他们有没有跟你说过appointment的事？我说没有。他就说，你带宝宝在这等着，我进去再问问。

结果我在外面等了好久好久，很是不安，就鼓起勇气推门进去了。一进去就听见那胖子用很rude的语气和我老公说：“if you don't want to sign the lease, that's fine...”我听到这里就咯噔一下，我们押金250镑都交了，就连手续费第一期房租押金等等共计一千多镑都交了（因为支票process要5 working days），他现在说不签？“if you still want to sign the lease, it'll be at 11:30”哦，原来他就是在明摆着恐吓啊！

当场就像吃了个苍蝇般恶心。我老公和他理论半天都没有结果。他还在那里说，你们有一个人的 reference晚到了，所以我有理由不让你们入住房子。（强烈怀疑这句话是谎话，鉴于他是说谎高手。）他就一直很rude地说，如果我是你们，我会昨天就打个电话来，问今天还可不可以签约，blah blah blah。疯了，我们第一次租房子，明明上面写明了全天都可以签约，谁知道还要提前打个电话。而且，就算这里是我们不对，可是他也不能态度这么差，甚至撒谎啊！

后来我老公和我说，胖子说昨天给我打过电话了，我手机voicemail是chinese的，所以他们听不懂，就没留言。我疯，我手机什么时候有过chinese的voicemail啊？我老公当场就说：“要不要我们现在打一打看看是不是chinese的？”那个胖子就马上转移话题。

后面我就说，我们能不能去哪里complain。胖子说：“If you want to complain, complain to me, coz I'm the duty manager.”我说but there must be a owner or something。他又没话说。就一直重复说，你们现在站在这里跟我理论是pointless的，11点半再回。

我们不是故意想和他理论，可是我们穿越半个城市到的那里，还带着一个孩子，坐公车还要转车，这样来来回回真的很辛苦啊！

最后还是没辙，只能走人，11点半再回去签约，很是胸闷！

像这样的情况，能不能complain？如果可以的话，向谁？

二、
给我们一张表写了家里所有东西的condition，让我们填完之后7天内交回去。我们马上填好了，老公寄回去。我问老公，有没有复印一份，他说忘了！！我昏！

后来一直不知道他们收到没有，我老公发EMAIL问他们也没回。昨天老公打电话，又是那个胖子接的，语气还是那么不耐烦！胖子说，没有收到我们的那张表！老公说怎么会没有收到啊。胖子说，你知道这里的邮寄经常出问题的！老公说，好吧，那我发的EMAIL你们怎么不回？胖子说，我们没收到你的EMAIL啊。老公说，我是直接从你们网站上COPY下来的地址哎！胖子说，oops!

又说到我们家的scottish power的问题（此问题略去），整个过程胖子都很不耐烦，很心急想挂电话的样子，说there's nothing to worry about！！

我只是听老公形容而已，并不知道确切的事，而且整个过程老公做事的确也有一些漏洞。可是还是觉得对方态度太差了！而且那张单子没收到，我们还得重新写一份！还不知道他们认不认账呢！我们的押金730镑啊！现在已经觉得一半都没了！

这种情况下，有什么方法可以保障我们的权益吗？大家请集思广益！

三、

顺便给个信息。
我们之前的房子，直接和房东租的。房东人很好，是医生又是美女。我父母和公婆来那里住她都不介意，我们带个孩子房子也乱哄哄的，她都没说什么。
我们走之前就很想把她房子打扫得干干净净，我还专门花了40镑清洁他们家地毯。
结果——
押金还是被扣了105镑！
怎么这么吃人啊？
有没有什么地方能保障我们的权益，而不是他们想扣多少就扣多少的？


今天和老板娘聊天，学到了好多！现摘抄一下她的话，大家也可以学习一下——

when i moved into a rented apartment, I always used to go through every room first and write down the condition of EVERYTHING - every single thing - and I took photos of everything too! but I am a bit weird like that!

maybe you should do it again (just pretend you are sending a copy of the original), do it again, photocopy it and send them the photocopy, then give the original to your solicitor so he has a copy

but I think the law will be on your side - there are loads of websites that explain your rights. in fact I think there's a government fact sheet about renters rights

I think people can be so greedy so you have to be one step ahead - and that will take some of the worry away. don't let people bully you

one more thing, any conversation you have with these people, even if it's on the phone, you should send a copy of your conversation to them - "I refer to our conversation where we discussed xxxxx" and keep a copy, and send it by registered mail so they have to sign for it and then you will have a record that they received it


请问她所说的solicitor要怎么找，有免费的吗？

真让人窝火！！

我去年在伦敦租的房子就遇见了让人窝火的事，房东也是要扣押金400磅。我LG很生气地，当时跟房东说，她不占理。如果房东不退押金，就去Citizens' Advice Bureau投诉她，而且那里有免费的律师插手这个事情，让她等着传票吧。

当时，那个房东就蔫了！！最后，我们拿回了押金，而且还得到了赔偿金，虽然不多，但是也算是个小小的胜利。当然我们也没有去Citizens' Advice Bureau。

后话：Citizens' Advice Bureau需要预约排队的，很多人很挤！在网上可以查到他们的联系方式，有些地方可以网上预约的。Citizens' Advice Bureau比较客观公正。
ＬＺ这个情况，看看能不能到Citizens' Advice Bureau那里寻求到保护和帮助。

恭喜楼上的战争胜利！
请问免费的律师要怎么找？
我刚刚给Citizens' Advice Bureau写了一封EMAIL，写完之后发过去居然退回来了，说地址不对，我汗一下。而且网站也很烂。
不过又查了一些资料，基本上解答了我的疑问，贴在这里给大家都看一看。

About inventory


What is an inventory?

An inventory is a list of everything that is in the property you're renting (for example, furniture, carpets and curtains, kitchenware, etc) and the condition it's in.

Here's an example of how an inventory might look:

Room


Furniture


Condition

Bedroom 1


Bed




Chest of drawers


Stains on surface



Carpet


Fraying in corner

Bedroom 2


Bed




Chest of drawers




Wardrobe


Mirror on door cracked



Carpet


Burn mark in middle

Back to top
Why do I need an inventory?

An inventory can help avoid a dispute over your deposit when you move out because it proves what state the property was in when you moved in. It's in your landlord's interest to provide an inventory, because if you break or damage anything while you are living there, the inventory shows that it wasn't broken before you moved in. On the other hand, if anything in the property is already damaged, the inventory proves that you didn't do it.

Back to top
How do I get an inventory?

* Your landlord or letting agent should supply you with an inventory. If they haven't done so by the time you move in, ask for one.
* If you aren't given an inventory, you can make one yourself and get an independent witness who doesn't live in the property to sign it. You can download an inventory form here. You could also take photos of the property when you move in.

Back to top
What else do I need to do?

* Before you sign the inventory, check it carefully and make a note of anything that is damaged, broken or worn. Make sure that everything in the property is listed on the inventory, and that there is nothing listed on the inventory that you can't find in the property.
* Once you are happy that the inventory is correct, make sure that both you and your landlord or letting agent sign it.
* Keep a copy of the inventory in a safe place.

原来在英格兰和威尔士都有tenancy deposit scheme了！真方便，交给第三方保存押金！

When you pay a deposit to a landlord or letting agency, they usually keep the money in their own bank account until they return it to you. Under a common form of tenancy deposit scheme, the deposit could be paid into a separate account, managed by the scheme. At the end of your tenancy, your landlord would let the scheme know if any of the money needed to be held back to cover damages or unpaid bills, and the rest would be returned to you. If you felt that your landlord was being unfair, you would then have the option of complaining to the scheme, rather than dealing directly with your landlord

可惜苏格兰还没有实行，真郁闷啊

he Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 gives the Scottish Ministers the legal right to make regulations about how tenancy deposit schemes in Scotland will be run. The Ministers need to decide:

* how best to operate the scheme
* how to advertise the scheme
* whether the scheme should be voluntary or compulsory
* how the scheme will resolve disputes between landlords and tenants.

This process may take some time, so it's unlikely that tenancy deposit schemes will be introduced in Scotland before 2008.

About deposits

How do I ensure I get my deposit back?

Your landlord or letting agent should return your deposit once you leave the property. Often deductions will be made to cover damage or unpaid rent. There are several things you can do make sure you get your deposit back.
When you move in

* Get a receipt for the deposit from the landlord or letting agency.
* Make sure you have a signed inventory and that everything listed on the inventory is definitely there and in the condition stated on the inventory. This includes damage to items prior to your moving in
* Ensure that your responsibilities regarding cleaning and upkeep are clearly laid out in the tenancy agreement so you know what you have to do.

While you're living there

* Try and take good care of the property and clean the place thoroughly before you move out.
* If anything gets broken or damaged, report it immediately in writing to your landlord or letting agent. Keep a copy of the letter.
* It may be cheaper to replace broken objects yourself than to wait for your landlord to replace them and then deduct the money from your deposit. However, it's best to check with your landlord first.
* If you want to carry out any repairs yourself, ask your landlord first. Some repairs are by law your landlord's or letting agency's responsibility - the section on repairs has more information about this.

When you move out

* Make sure everything on the inventory is still there, and that any damage beyond fair wear and tear has been repaired.
* Clean the property before your landlord inspects it. If your landlord has to hire a cleaner to clear up after you, the cost will come out of your deposit.
* Make sure you're up to date with your rent. You're not legally allowed to withhold your last month's rent in lieu of getting your deposit back, unless you have agreed this with your landlord.
* Pay all your final gas, electricity and telephone bills - your landlord will need written proof that you've done this before you get your deposit back.
* Remove all your belongings from the property.
* Arrange for your landlord to inspect the property on the day you move out and make sure you're there when they come round. If this isn't possible, take photos of the property before you leave, to prove you left it in good condition.
* Return all keys to the property.

The landlord or letting agency should not hold back your deposit because of general wear and tear that could reasonably be expected to occur. If you feel the landlord or agency is holding back your deposit unfairly, get advice from a Citizens Advice Bureau or law centre.

Back to top
When will I get my deposit back?

Once you move out, your landlord will need time to:

* inspect the property
* check whether anything has been damaged
* ensure that you haven't left any outstanding bills or rent arrears.

Go to the page on getting your deposit back to find out what to do if your landlord refuses to return your money or withholds it unfairly.

What if my landlord has kept my deposit unfairly?

You may believe your landlord has kept back your deposit unfairly if, for example, they:

* have considered fair wear and tear to the property to be damage
* are claiming you have damaged the property or left it in a bad state when you haven't
* haven't given you any reason for not returning your deposit.
* Your landlord or letting agent should give you reasons for refusing or delaying the return of your deposit when you leave. This should include a breakdown of specific costs, including:
* the costs of repairing or replacing any specific items they say you have damaged or removed
* the costs of any cleaning that has needed to be done.

If your landlord or letting agent does not include a breakdown of the costs, you can write to request that they do so.

Decide whether you agree with the costs. If you are prepared to accept responsibility for some costs and not others, write back and say so, stating the balance you expect to have returned. You can download a sample letter here. If you think the level of any of the costs (such as those for repairing damage or cleaning) are unreasonably high, you are entitled to ask for receipts to be provided.

If your landlord or letting agent still refuses to return the money, write back and give them a deadline (for example, two weeks) to reply in writing. Explain that if you don't get your deposit back, you will be forced to take action in the small claims court. Keep copies of all your letters.

What if negotiation doesn't work?

If your deposit is less than £750, you can take action against your landlord in the small claims court. This is quite straightforward. Landlords and agents sometimes pay up as soon as they receive court papers, so you may not have to go to court.

建议楼主明天打个电话直接去预约吧，ＥＭＡＩＬ来回打乒乓球，解决问题都不知道要什么时候了。

对了，突然想起来，有些地方的Citizens' Advice Bureau，是大早上去排队，谁先到，安排谁。使用的是叫号的，像银行一样。

ＬＺ有小孩子，看看能不能申请特权呢？总不能大冷天的带着ＢＢ一趟又一趟的跑吧。

去Citizens' Advice Bureau投诉的，如果要走司法程序是有免费律师给的。但是，好像是谁败诉了，就要给这个号称免费的律师钱的（这个消息不确定，是刚刚问现在的房东得到的消息）。呵呵，房东特疑惑的望着我，感觉，我要去找他茬一样，哈哈

谢谢楼上的回复。
问题是我们还没被扣押金呢，我是未雨绸缪，所以还没到投诉的份上。我写EMAIL就是问问如何保障我们的押金问题，还有AGENCY说没收到我们的INVENTORY LIST，碰到这样不负责任的中介我们该怎么办等等。
这里的Citizens' Advice Bureau 是可以WALK-IN也可以MAKE APPOINTMENT的，可是还是不想跑那么远，毕竟还在工作，要请假也麻烦，唉。
我刚写了封信给中介。

想到一个方法不知道适用不。
既然ＬＺ的ＬＧ已经给中介邮寄了单子，又没有复印件。能不能再给中介打个电话，在电话里面说出详细的邮寄日期，邮寄的单子类型，给某某中介公司的，还说担心他们收不到，最近邮差老出错，然后ＬＺ在旁边录音。不过，担心他们说你保留的证据蛮假的，建议楼主一边在旁边教ＢＢ学英文ＡＢＣ（当英文旁白），一边小心录音保留证据。以后就说，是在给ＢＢ学讲话录音时，无意当中记录的证据，这样来保护一下你的ＤＥＰＯＳＩＴ。　

你的遭遇和我以前找房的时候差不多, 发现各地的租房中介都很RUDE, 苏格兰和英格兰都一样. 看起来是一群文化程度不高,不太讲理的人. 我没有在中介那里租到过房子, 可能我比较倔, 受不了他们的欺负. 最后都是通过学校里面租到的, 或者在报纸上看到广告直接和房东联系.

谢谢楼主的帖子，保存起来以后搬出出租屋的时候用。

我在英格兰，找房子时签约的中介是Grants, 感觉态度和服务都还不错。家里的设施有什么问题，他们很快就会请第三方来修理。如果大家居住的地区也有此中介的分部，我推荐一下。

祝楼主维权顺利！

同情。不过现在好像通过了新法例保障租客押金，是让council收着，房东或负责的中介是不能直接收取的，以防恶意扣钱。
我碰到的中介比较好，虽然服务态度一般，押金比别人贵，我住进去1个多月都没填condition form给他们，后来他们催才填上，而且写的不详细。后来搬家的时候才知道害怕，因为本来进去的时候家具地毯都又旧又脏，走的时候更破更脏，怎清洁都不行。心想押金收不回了，但求不要再charge。结果最后押金都全退，最后一个月的房租还按天算退还给我了

找中介很多时候也是靠运气，碰到按规矩办事的staff，没什么问题；碰到xxx的，就麻烦了。

我们和MARTIN&CO打了两次交道，态度很好，也很负责。压金是压在中介那儿，搬走的时候，中介就算是中间人，两边协调，虽然我们上次搬家因为洗手间的漆不好，发霉，被扣了些压金，觉得不太爽，但是对中介的处理还是挺满意的。感觉压金还是放在中介那儿比较安心，直接交给房东，有什么纠葛要找这个找那个仲裁，更麻烦。

非常感谢大家的意见建议和回帖！

飞利浦西斯蛋挞：可惜那条新法例只在英格兰威尔士实施，唉。如果苏格兰也实施了，我就不用这么愁了。你的确好幸运啊！

我怎么听说的是，房东退押金比较大方，中介反而会扣钱？
这个中介真的让我和老公很不放心，他们做事总是很模糊。说要再给我们寄一份inventory list，到现在都没收到。他们今天好容易回了EMAIL，说会再寄一份！真的很气人。不知道为什么，我总觉得他们说话的口气很傲，有点歧视外地人的意思。是我太敏感？

以下是他们的最新回信，怎么看怎么语气都怪怪的，特别是粗体字那些

We have yet to receive the inventory and a copy was sent out to you, obviously you has yet to receive it. Another copy will be sent out to you ASAP, hopefully you will receive it this time.

换个房子租租算了，手里拿着钱还要受他们的气，想也没想过

這中介的英文不咋地啊。

这个钱押金不管怎么样都到不了中介手里，他们为什么要帮着房东卡你？倒是交到房东手里，碰到不好的房东，用都用掉了，再拿出来就不情愿了，到东到西找理由不退你。我觉得这是人之常情。

请教一下，何以见得？

租房是一个非常头疼的问题。我的教顺和经验是所有的谈话都要有证据。如果是电话交流，第二天就写一封信，写上，i am writing to confirm our telephone conversation yesterday at xxx regarding the xxxxx problem. You agreed to xxxxx ....xxxxx,寄过去，自己留copy。 如果中介回email比较快，建议用email交流，email也是written proof.。其他的任何文件，都要自己留备份。还有搬进之日，搬出之日，都要仔细检查房子的每一个角落(抽屉要打开看看，床垫要翻开看看，等等细节），拍照，写上一个List of defects 或者 The Original Condition of the Property （with Pictures to Prove）,让中介/房东看过之后 一起签字，每人一份。

如果自己没有做错任何事情，房东或者中介不讲理，写信给他们reasonable deadline, 如果没有解决，或者不解决，就说otherwise, we will resort to legal actions. 一旦中介或者房东知道你是比较有经验的tenant,就不敢为难你了。

如果工作的话，最好是利用办公室fax过去，然后再打一个Fax Transmission OK 的Report， 这样就有证据了。他们无法抵赖。所有的bills payment 都要自己保留好，房子打扫干净，他们如果无理扣押金，就写信告诉他们，We request that our deposit be refunded in full by xxxxxx. If you pay by check, please allow 7 working days for clearance. If by xxxxx we do not receive our deposit in full, we will have to take legal actions against you. We await your immediate reply.

希望对大家有帮助。

楼上的总结得好
传真机那一招挺牛，又省邮费

我们以前在新加坡住了两年半,租房,一直和房东关系很好,要搬走的时候房东提前就把押金退给我们了,还说我们走了把钥匙放信箱里就行了,他们连过来check一下都省了,房子里的家具电器什么都有,连床上用品都提供,但我们在的时候没有用房东的,直到临走的时候把房子打扫干净再又换回原来的床单.后来还推荐了老公的师弟去住那套房子,因为房东真的很好,你需要什么打个电话他就马上解决.刚来英国先租了6个月的房子,房东还是老公同事的partner,刚住进去的时候对我们很好,后来听说我们要买房子就一直发email说我们如果住不满6个月也是要付房租的,我们压根也没想毁约,虽然提前一个月就买好了房子但还是住满了6个月,到最后房东也是想方设法扣了100多镑的押金,以前我发过帖子的,现在都不想再回忆一遍生那个气,反正算是看透了英国人说一套做一套的虚伪把戏了,宁愿花高息贷款买房,住的舒服.

因為語法不好啊。 不過換過來想想，很多中國人的書面語也不怎么好。

同情一下。没有别的选择吗？

下次寄的时候，用2nd class recorded. 他们要签字的，想抵赖也不行。也正好给你个机会留个底--你老公上次不是忘了吗。刚好。
以后再寄什么东西全用2nd class recorded，可能贵一点点，但是他们也没有办法，然后，传真，邮件，告诉他保证他们可以任何方式收到其中一种。对付这种人只能这样。
另外，当地的cab只能给你建议，对他们起不到威慑作用，你可以试试打电话到city council问问他们有没有housing advice center/dept. 他们说话有分量，而且对当地的黑中介和很坏的私人房东都会留有一份黑名单。如果中介太过分的话，他们有权利吊销他们租房子的权利。他们会替你写信给中介/房东或者他们的律师帮你解决问题。如果有必要，这些adviser 还可以替你上庭--免费的。但是你一定要有证据。
另外因为咱们自己带着孩子，下次真要有这种情况，确实提前打个电话比较好，这样自己心里也有数。即使他们说一天都可以签约，万一他们有意外安排，或者出去带客人看房子了，还是自己吃亏。但是如果你提前约过的话，他们就要先考虑你了。
不过就像sand说的一样，如果有别的选择还是换一家吧，咱出了钱到哪里租不到房子啊，给他交了钱还要受它的鸟气。我们刚来英国那年搞过一回，所以我对上面那个过程那么熟悉，不过过后觉得自己当时太傻了，没必要。我们当时那个房东是个中国女人，可能她自己出了几百镑律师费吧，我们就是city coucil的人帮我们出头，跟她的律师打交道。我们那个女房东比你这里那个胖子能干多了---当着我们五个中国人的面要我们说英语，理由是她已经不习惯说汉语了。

看一看，吓一跳，我们用的这个中介比较起来完全是行业模范标兵了，任何文件，签字，服务都很有条理，一板一眼，态度也不错的。

选中介的时候，尽量用NAEA（The National Association of Estate Agents）的成员。可以多一个complain的途径。

我这几天也是给中介折腾的够受
总结一句，人穷的时候就是受气。
如果真的有钱，自己砸钱买套房子最好